Hose protector



Dec. 16, 1947. G. BECKWITH HOSE PROTECTOR Filed March 13, 1947 mva'zvrm.Gretchen Beck with BY M6 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to footwear and, more specifically toimprovements in hose protectors adapted for preventing the ladies hosefrom getting wet and soiled during inclement weather while walking onwet, sloppy ground.

Hitherto several devices have been used such as overshoes, combined leg,stocking and shoe protectors of rubber which cover the entire leg or amajor portion thereof, and the like. These well known devices usuallyare heavy,-uncomfortable, bothersome to put on, and to take off and/orof an unpleasant outer appearance.

Therefore, the main object of the present in vention is the proViSiOn ofhose protectors of the character described which can be made of plasticmaterial, vidafilm, rubberized material or rubber, which are light inweight and can be folded and placed in a case and carried in a pursewhen not in use, and which cover the outside of the ankles around heelto the inside of the ankles or a 1itt1e beyond.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of hoseprotectors of the character described which cover only that portion ofthe hose which are normally exposed to water and dirt splashedthereagainst while walking on wet ground, so that the front portions ofthe shoes and hose remain visible, which are adjustable to fit neatlyaround the leg and heel, and which can be made in different sizes andcolors to match Wearing apparel and thus will not cheapen but will makeones outfit more attractive due to its tailored look and neatness. Theworking girl particularly will benefit by this device by being able togo out to lunch and back on a wet, slushy day to find herself free fromdirty splashed hose.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of hOseprotectors of the character described which are provided with Zippersalong their longitudinal center line for the following two purposes:First, for facilitating a speedy putting on and taking off of the hoseprotectors without disturbing the adjustment of adjustable straps; andsecond, for supporting all the way down the foldable shell members,which constitute the main protecting parts, in order to keep them up andto prevent them from sagging down or fro-m becoming dislodged While inuse.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of hoseprotectors of the character described which are simple in construction,consisting of only a few inexpensive parts, so that they can bemanufactured and sold at a very reasonable price, but which are durableand well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of thistype are frequently subjected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts herein- 45 new and improved hoseprotectors.

2 after more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it beingunderstood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit of the 5 invention asclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention havebeen shown.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of myinvention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view drawn on a larger scale than Figure1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing the numeral i denotes an entire hose protector made inaccordance with my invention. Its main part is a shell consisting of twolongitudinal members 2 and 3 of plastic material, rubberized material,water repellent cloth, leather, vidafilm, rubber or the like, and beingsubstantially quadrantal in cross-section. The members 2 and 3 aredetachably connected to one another by any suitable means, preferably bymeans of a slide fastener 4, which may be made of metal or of plasticmateria1 or the like. When the members 2 and 3 are joined to each otherby means of the slide fastener 4 or the like, they form a pliableupright shell which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section (Figure3) and which fits around the lower portion of the leg and the rear heelportion of the shoe, as may be seen in Figure 1. An instep strap 5preferably is provided on the lower horizontal front edge portion of themembers 2 and 3, while the vertical front edge portions of said membersare provided with adjustable straps 6 which fit around the lower frontportion of the leg (Figure 1).

Once the straps 6 have been adjusted to fit properly around the lowerfront portion of the leg, these straps 6 do not have to be manipulatedany more for taking off or for putting on my These hose protectors areslipped on by opening the slide fastener 4, stepping into the hoseprotectors, and closing the slide fastener 4. They can he slipped off ina very simple manner after the slide fastener 4 has been pulled down.

The slide fastener 4 affords a certain backbone stiffness to the pliableshell which is formed by the members 2 and 3 so as to better keep themup and to prevent them from sagging down or from becoming dislodgedwhile in use.

Underneath the slide fastener 4 there can be arranged a strip (netshown) of the same material of which consist the members 2 and 3, sothat this strip will overlap the slide fastener 4 when it is closed,thus preventing an entangling 3 of the hose with the slide fastener 4and constituting an additional reinforcing and supporting means of themembers 2 and 3.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hose protector comprising a pliable upright shell which issubstantially semi-annular in cross-section and which along itslongitudinal center line is sub-divided and provided with means forattaching its subdividedsections to "one another, adjustablecross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges of said shell,and an instep strap being attached tothe lower horizontal front edgeportion of said shell, all substantially as set forth.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pliable uprightshell which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and which alongits longitudinal center line is subdivided by a slide fastener,adjustable cross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges ofsaid shell, and an instep strap being attached to the lower horizontalfront edge portion of said shell, said shell being adapted to fit aroundthe rear heel portion of a shoe and the lower rear portion of the leg,while said cross-straps are adapted to fit around the lower frontportion of the leg, all substantially as described.

3. A hose protector comprising a pliable upright shell which is adaptedto fit around the rear heel portion of a shoe and the lower rear portionof the leg and which consists of two longitudinal sections that aresubstantially quadrantal in cross-section, a slide fastener detachablyconnecting said longitudinal sections to one another, adjustablecross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges of said shell,and an instep strap being attached to the lower horizontal front edgeportion of said shell, said cross-straps being adapted to fit around thelower front portion of the leg, all substantially as described.

GRETCHEN BECKWITI-I.

